tom swift & his electric runabout(汤姆史威特和他的电力小轿车)-第31节
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repair stations on the inner side of the track。 〃Be ready with the extra
wheel； Mr。 Sharp！〃
〃Right you are！〃 cried the balloonist。 The car was scarcely stopped
when he had leaped out； and had the lifting jack under the left rear wheel；
where the tire had gone to the bad。 He and Tom labored like Trojans to
take off the wheel； and put on the other。 They lost five minutes； and when
they got under way again the red and the green cars were three quarters of
a lap ahead。
〃You've got to catch them！〃 declared Sharp firmly。
But the red and the green car drivers saw their advantage； and were
determined to hold it。 Tom could not catch them without going his limit；
and he did not want to do this just yet。 However； he had his opportunity
when about two hundred miles had been covered。 Both the red and the
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green cars had tire troubles； but the red one was delayed scarcely two
minutes as there was a corps of mechanics on hand to take off the
defective wheel and put on another。 Still Tom regained his lost ground； and
once more the race between those three cars was even。
In the rear of Tom's car Mr。 Sharp was mending the blown…out tire；
though there was still one spare wheel on reserve。 Tom； in front； peered
eagerly at the track。 Nearly side by side raced the red and the green cars；
the latter somewhat to the rear。
It was at the three hundred and fiftieth mile that Tom had another
blow…out。 This time it took a little longer to change the wheel； and the red
and green cars gained a full lap on him。 The track was now so dusty that it
was difficult to see the contesting cars。 Many had dropped out； and more
were on the verge of giving up。
With the odds against him； Tom started in to regain the lost ground。
Narrowly he watched his electric power。 Slowly he saw it dropping。
Would he have enough left to finish out the race？ He feared not。 The hours
were passing。 Still there was a hundred miles yet to go twenty circuits of
the track。 Some of the spectators were getting weary and leaving。 The
band played spasmodically。
Suddenly Tom saw the red car shoot to one side of the track； toward a
charging station； The green car followed。
〃That's our cue！〃 cried the young inventor 〃We need a little more
'juice' and now is the time to get it。〃
The lad ran to the shed where his charging wires were； and they were
connected in a trice。 He allowed twenty…five minutes for the charging； as
he knew with his improved battery he could get enough current in that
time to finish the contest。 Before the red and green car drivers had finished
installing new batteries； for they could not recharge as quickly as could
our hero； Tom was on the track again。 But； in a little while； his two rivals
were after him。
It was now a spectacular race。 Around and around swept the three big
cars。 All the others were practically out of it。 The crowd became lively airs。
Mile after mile was reeled off。 The day was passing。 Tired and covered
with dust from the track； Tom still sat at the steering wheel。
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TOM SWIFT AND HIS ELECTRIC RUNABOUT or The Speediest Car on the Road
〃Two laps more！〃 cried Mr。 Sharp； as the starter's pistol gave this
warning。 〃Can you get away from 'em； Tom？〃
The red and the green cars were following closely。 The young inventor
looked back and nodded。 He turned on more power； almost to the limit
that he was saving for the final spurt。 But after him still came the two big
cars。 Suddenly the red car shot ahead； just as the last lap was beginning。
The green tried to follow； but there was a flash of fire； a loud report； and
Tom knew a fuse had blown out。 There was no time for his rival to put in a
new one。 The race was now between Tom and the red car。 Could the lad
catch and pass it？
They were now only a mile from the finish。 The red car was three
lengths ahead。 With a quick motion Tom turned on the last bit of power。
There seemed to come a roar from his Motor and his car shot ahead。 It was
on even terms with the red car when what Tom had been fearing for the
last five minutes happened。 his fuse blew out。
〃Too bad！ It's all up with us！〃 cried Mr。 Sharp。
〃No！〃 cried Tom in a ringing voice。 〃I've got an emergency fuse
ready！〃 He snapped a switch in place； putting into commission another
fuse。 The motor that had lost speed began to pick it up again。 Tom had
pulled back the controller handle； but he now shoved it forward again；
notch by notch； until it was at the limit。 He had fallen back from the red
car； and the occupants of that； with a yell of triumph； prepared to cross the
line a winner。
But； like a race horse that nerves himself for the last desperate spurt；
Tom's machine fairly leaped ahead。 With his hands gripping the rim of the
steering wheel； until it seemed that the bones of his fingers would protrude；
Tom sent his car straight for the finishing tape。 There was a yell from the
spectators。 Men were standing up； waving their hats and shouting。 Women
were fairly screaming。 Mr。 Damon was blessing everything within sight。
Mr。 Sharp； in his excitement； was pushing on the back of the front seats as
if to shove the car ahead。
Then； as the pistol announced the close of the race； Tom's car； with
what seemed a mighty leap； like a hunter clearing a ditch； forged ahead；
and crossed the line a length in advance of the red car。 Tom Swift had
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Won。
Amid the cheers of the crowd the lad slowed up； and； at the direction
of the judges； wheeled back to the stand； to receive the prize。 A certified
check for three thousand dollars was handed him； and he received the
congratulations of the racing officials。 The driver of the red car also
generously praised him。
〃You won fair and square；〃 he said； shaking hands with Tom。
The young inventor and his friends drove their car to their shed。 As
Tom was descending； weary and begrimed with dust he heard a voice
asking：
〃Mayn't I congratulate you also？〃
He wheeled around； to confront Mary Nestor； immaculate in a summer
gown。
〃Whywhy；〃 he stammered。 〃II thought you didn't come。〃
〃Oh； yes I did；〃 she answered； laughing。 〃I wouldn't have missed it for
anything。 I arrived late； but I saw the whole race。 Wasn't it glorious。 I'm so
glad you won！〃 Tom was too； now； but he shrank back when Miss
Nestor held out both daintily gloved hands to him。 His hands were covered
with oil and dirt。
〃As if I cared for my gloves！〃 she cried； and she took possession of his
hands； a proceeding to which Tom was nothing loath。 〃Are you going to
race any more？〃 she asked； as he walked along by her side； away from the
gathering crowd。
〃I don't know；〃 he replied。 〃My car is speedier than I thought it was。
Perhaps I may enter it in other contests。〃
But what Tom Swift did later on will be told in another volume； to be
called； 〃Tom Swift and His Wireless Message； or； The Castaways of
Earthquake Island〃a strange tale of ship…wreck and mystery。
The run back home was made without incident； save for a broken
chain； easily repaired； the day following the race； and Tom later received a
number of invitations to give exhibitions of speed。 Several automobile
manufacturers wanted to secure the rights to his machine； but he said he
desired to consider the matter before acting。 He did not forget his promise
to Mrs。 Baggert； regarding the diamond earrings； and bought her the finest
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pair he could find。
〃Come on； Mr。 Sharp；〃 proposed Tom； a week or so after the big race；
〃let's go for a spin in the airship。 I want to see how it feels to be among the
clouds once more；〃 and they were soon soaring
